Heavy duty electrical rotary switches with push-button snap-action



May 18, 1965 A. CLAREY HEAVY DUTY ELECTRICAL ROTARY SWITCHES WITHPUSH-BUTTON SNAP-ACTION 2 SheetsSheet l Filed Feb. 8, 1963 vMay 18, 1965v A. CLAREY 3,184,557

l HEAVY DUTY ELECTRICAL ROTARY SWITCHES WITH PUSH-BUTTON SNAP-ACTION 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 8, 1963 INVENTOR.

Alexander Claw-ey United States Patent O 3,184,557 HEAVY ELECERECALR'ihlill! SWITCHES lil/lill lllildleldillrihl SNAFAC'PEN AlexanderClarey, dit@ W. 145th St., New York, NSY. Filed S, i963, Ser. No.257,262.6 o Ciaims. (Cl. Zilli-4) rthis invention relates to electricalswitches, and more particularly to multiple pole heavy duty electricalrotary switches with push-button snap-action.

ln its broad aspect, the invention proposes an improved multiple poleswitch that can be operated to close any one of a plurality of circuits.

Somewhat more speciiically, a general purpose of the invention is toenable closing orP any one particular circuit of a plurality of circuitswithout causing even momentary closure of any of the other circuits tothe switch.

A detail object of the invention is to provide a switch having a rotorwhich can be brought to and closure made to any one of a plurality oicontacts without touching any other contacts in its approach to theselected one.

Also of specific nature, the invention is directed to provision ot' amultiple pole electric switch wherein opstanding blade contacts in acircular series may be employed for selective engagement by an axiallydepressible rotatable contact.

Corollary to the foregoing, an object of the invention is to makeselection of the circuit to be closed before any closure of any electriccircuit is eiiectcd and after selection has been made to then close onlythe selected circuit.

ln somewhat greater detail, the invention proposes a multiple pole bladeand scabbard rotary contact construction wherein opening and closing theswitch for any of a multiple of circuits may be effected with snapaction.

The invention is directed to the important objective derived 'oy usingupstanding blade contacts and a snap action mechanism, for providing aswitch having a much greater number of positions and capable of carryinga much greater electrical load as compared with and having the samediameter as conventional rotary switches of the prior art.

Other objects, advantages, beneficial results and novel structuralfeatures will appear to persons skilled in the art to which theinvention appcrtains, as the description proceeds, both by directrecitation thereof and by implication trom the context.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals ofreference indicate similar parts throughout the several views;

FlGURE 1 is a rear view of a switch embodying my invention and showingthe arrangement of circuit connectors for a plurality ot circuits;

FlGURE 2 is a longitudinal section of the switch in open condition,ready to snap closed, the section being taken on line ll-ll of FlG. 1;

FIGURE 3 is a iront view oi said switch showing the dial by which thedesired circuit may be selected;

FlGURES 4 and 5 are cross sections on lines IV--IV and V-V respectivelyof FIG. 2;

FlGURE. 6 is a longitudinal section corresponding to FIG. 2, showing theswitch closed but ready to snap open;

FiGURE 7 is a detail elevation of the toggle plunger employed in saidswitch;

FlGURE 8 is an elevational view of one of the staggered contactelements;

FIGURE 9 is a rear view similar to FlG. 1, as on line lX-lX of FlG. 15,showing a modified construction;

FIGURE 10 is a cross section on line X-X of FlG. l5;

FIGURES l1 and 14 are sectional views looking in the reverse directionto that of FIG. 1() on line X-X, showing two forms of rotor contacts;

ICC

FGURES 12 and 13 are plan and edge views respectively of dual contactsof FIG. 11;

FIGURE 15 is a longitudinal section corresponding to FlGS. 2 and 6,showing modiiication thereof;

FGURE 16 is another longitudinal section of a further modiiiedconstruction; and

FIGURE 17 is a cross sectional View on line XVH-XVH of FIG. 16.

ln the speciic embodiment of the invention illustrated in said drawings,and referring initially to the construction shown on sheet 1 thereof,FIGS. 1 8, numeral 20 designates any suitable panel or wall on which theswitch is mounted. The switch body or casing 21 is located behind thepanel, and a knob 22 for manipulation by the user, and dial 23 andpointer 245 are at the iront of the panel. Said body or casing 21 has aforwardly extending threaded neck 2S that protrudes through the panel2li, and a nut if on said neck secures the body in iXed position toneither rotate nor move longitudinally. Dial 23 is clamped at itsmidportion under said nut and against the panel.

Said neck 25 is hollow and rotatably extending therethrough coaxialtherewith is a sleeve 27 on the outer end of which is secured, as by setscrew 28, a hub 29 to which said pointer 2d is attached for revolving infront of said dial 23. Also fixed on sad hub 29 is a locater annulus 3)having a circular series of teeth 31 directed forwardly away from thepanel. While the teeth may be of any selected shape and number, theindication given in the drawings is that the teeth are of a squarecharacter and that there are as many teeth as position markings on thedial, although this is not to be considered a necessity.

@n the inner end of the sleeve 2'7 there is a placement wheel 32 havingperipheral notches 33 in number and location corresponding to theposition markings of the dial. These notches taper up to sharp peaksbetween successive notches, At least one spring-loaded ball 34 isprovided to register with and seat in a corresponding notch of placementwheel at a position of retention when the pointer is at a dial marking.For balanced construction two balls, diametrically opposed with respectto the placement wheel are preferred. Spring loading is accomplished inthe construction oi the showing on sheet l, by means of a circular splitring spring 35 at the outside of casing 21 passing over holes throughwhich the balls protrude. It will thus be appreciated that the placementWheel 32 can be indeaed from position to position of a ball seating insuccessive notches 33 and that the rotation of said wheel is effected bycorresponding rotation of annulus 30.

Rotation ot annulus Si@ is effected, when desired, lby a cooperatingactuator 36 rotatably mounted coaxial thereto, and preferably alsoannular and provided with teeth 37 equal in number, shape and locationas and directed toward the teeth 31 ot the locater yannulus 3i), so asto interengage therewith as occasion requires. The actuator 3o is iixedcoaxially at the inside of knob 22 which in turn is fixed, as by setscrew 3S upon a shaft 39 which in this instance is shown hollow and isboth rotatable and slidable in said sleeve. The knob can be pressedinwardly toward the panel, as shown in FIG. 2, and thereby engage theactuator 36 with the locater annulus 3d, and then rotation of the knobZ2 will rotate the annulus 3d, sleeve 27 and placement wheel 32 todesired location indicated by pointer 2d on dial 23. Retraction of theknob 22 separates the actuator 36 from lthe loeater annulus Sti as shownin FIG, 6, and in lthat relation thereof turning the knob 22. neitherdisturbs the pointer 24 set-ting or the setting of the placement Wheel32.

Within casing 21, secured to the inward face of the placement wheel 32is a 4rectangular guide frame 40 disposed symmctrically with respect tothe axis of said wheel 32, sleeve 27 and shaft 39. Midway of two opposedwalls of said guide frame there are two slots 41 extending in directionsparallel to each other and to the axis of said wheel, sleeve and shaft.These slots receive guiding wings 42 projecting radially -thereinto froman axial plunger 43. S-aid plunger extends axially through the shaft 39and protrudes at the front end thereof within the knob and there has ahead 44 which keeps the plunger retained within the shaft.

In the space within the casing 2li, Ibeyond said guide frame 40, islocated the movable switch member comprising -a radially disposed busbar 45 flatwise upon and secured to a carrie/i246, here lshown as a diskof insulating material. On this carrier is secured a c-ross member of aU-shaped bracket 47 the arms of which project into said guide frameadjacent to the end walls thereof and in guided relation both to saidend walls and to the side walls of said frame. This bracket is insulatedfrom said `bus bar.

The arms of said bracket have inwardly directed pins 48 or other meansreceiving and retaining ends of compression springs 49 the other ends ofwmch are received and retained by similar pins projecting radially fromsaid plunger 43. The relationship of attachment is such that when theswitch is in its off position (FIG. Q) and the operator pulls the knob22 outwardly, after having set the pointer to desired position, thesprings 49, pulled by the pins on plunger 43, pass at tirst through acondition of axial alignment, usually referred to as dead-centerposition, at which they become compressed to maximum. At or about thismoment the teeth 37 within the knob 22 disengage from the teeth 31 ofthe annulus Sil. As soon as the pins of the plunger 43 pass thedead-center position, the compressed springs 49 will briskly push vtheU-bracket 47 with the bus bar 45 in the direction opposite from that inwhich the knob 22 is pulled. The desired circuit becomes closed and theswitch is in its on position. The actuator 36 being at this timeseparated `from the locater annulus 30, as shown in FIG. 6, turning ofthe knob 22 neither disturbs the pointer l24 setting or .the setting ofthe placement wheel 32. It is obvious that if the knob 22 is pushedinwardly, lthe mechanism of the switch will work in the same but reversemanner; the circuit will become open, the locater annulus 30 will engagewith the actuator 36, and thus `the rotating of Vthe knob 22 will permitsetting the pointer 24 in a new position.

According to the showing of Sheet l of the drawings, the bus bar 45 hasa contact Si) mounted thereon at a location coaxial with respect to .theaxis of rotation of the placement wheel 32, frame 4.t and bracket 47.Since this Contact is movable forwardly and rearwardly with the bracketand bus bar, it will be referred -to as the central movable contact 50.

Beyond the bus bar 45 and fixed in the inner end of the casing 2l, is aheader S1 of insulating material centrally of which is disposed a xedcontact 52. One or the other of contacts 50 and S2 is of arcua-tescabbard type, in this instance movable contact 50 on the Ibus bar,whereas the other contact, in this instance the fixed one S2, is ofcylindrical plug type, 'so that engagement can be made at any positionof rotation of one with respect to the other. The header 51 carries acircular series of fixed contacts 53, the center of .the circle of whichis at said centrally disposed xed contact 52 above described.

The bus bar 4S has a selector contact 54 at an outward end portionthereof, so that this contact not only can revolve, but can be advancedor retracted in rel-ation to the switch axis by corresponding movementapplied to the bus bar. Since the bus bar is indexed in rotation, thecontacts 53 of the circular series are correspondingly arranged to beindividually engaged by `the selector contact in accordance withlocation indicated by pointer 24 on dial 23 and consequential setting ofthe selector wheel 32, frame 40 and bus -bar 45. In lthe presentdisclosure, the selector contact 54 has been illustrated as a U-shapescabbard Contact, whereas 4the contacts 53 of the circular series are ofblade type. All of those blades are arranged to be selectively engagedby the selector contact 54, so of course are all at a common radialdistance from the axis, but alternate ones may have a greater radialdimension than others iso that the stern portions 55 thereof willproject, as shown in FIG. 1, alternately at different radial distancesfor enabling lead-in wires (not shown) to be more readily attachedthereto than if all stems projected at a common radial distance.

If desired, a visual means may be provided for indicating whether theswitch is in open or closed condition. An example of such meanscomprises an electric light bulb Se, for instance red in color, toindicate a ciosed circuit condition, and if desired, another electriclight bulb 57, for instance green in color, to indicate an open circuitcondition. These electric light bulbs are of course properly energizedat the closed and open switch conditions determined by the advanced orretracted location of bus bar 45 and its carrier 46. A conventionalmicroswitch 59, for example a double throw single pole type, can beproperly located at the side of the casing 2l so the actuator 5S of themicro-switch ywill be depressed by arrival of carrier 4e thcreagainst,whereupon the circuit is closed to 4light the green light. This occurswhen the knob 22 is pushed inward as in FIG. 2. When the knob is pulledoutward as in FIG. 6, actuator 5S is released from engagement with thecarrier and the micro-switch then closes the circuit to the red light56. in order for the carrier to be effective for all dial settings whenthe knob is pushed inward, said carrier is made circular in shape.

Giving momentary attention to FGS. 9-15, it will be observed that thereis no central contact to the bus bar. Instead, the bus bar is providedwith two contacts both of which make engagement with different contactsof the circular series. For this purpose, as shown in FIG. 10, thecircular series is arranged as a double set of contacts 60 of which oneset is at a less radial distance from the axis of rotation of theassociated rotor than the other set, but the stems 61 all extendstraight out through header 51 to be correspondingly arranged in twosets with the stems of one set having a staggered relation to the stemsof the other set for ready attachment of lead-in wires.

The rotor as shown in FIGS. 1l and 12 may provide a bus bar 62 withcontacts d3, d4 thereon in substantially side-by-side relation but withenough radial oit-set to permit one contact 63 to engage with one of thecontacts of one set of the circular series Whereas the other Contact 64will simultaneously engage an adjacent contact of the other set of thecircular series for purposes of completing an exterior circuit notrelying upon a common ground for all circuits.

The only difference of construction to be noted of FIGS. 14 and 15 fromFIGS. 11 and 12, is in the location of the contacts 65, 66 on oppositesides radially of the axis but oit-set from precise diainetric relationand at different radial distances yet with both on a common bus bar 67having an appropriate angular disposition. It may further be said, thatsince the arrangement of paired contact engagement in FIGS. 9-15utilizes only half as many positions as utilized in the constructionshown on sheet l, the placement wheel 68 is half as large and has halfas many notches 33 for the balls 34. Since the placement wheel issmaller, the balls are at a distance inward from the casing 21 and areindividually pressed toward the placement wheel by springs 69.

It will be observed in FIGS. 1-15 that the knob 22 has free rotationwithout changing the pointer setting when the knob is pulled outwardly.FIGS. 16 and 17 show a construction wherein free rotation of the knoboccurs when the knob is pushed inwardly. This difference is madepossible by locating and securing the annulus 70 at the inward face ofthe placement wheel 68 and securing the cooperating toothed actuator 71at the inner end of the shaft 72 to the outer end of which the knob 22is secured. In this showing, the actuator 71 lies between the end wallsof the guide frame 73, the side Walls of said frame being cut away toadmit presence of said actuator. Furthermore, the rotor 74 provides acentral bullet shape male contact 75 fitting rotatably into a sockettype contact 76 and near the outer end of the rotor is a shorter bulletshape male contact 77 that can be selectively introduced into andwithdrawn from one of a circular series of socket type contacts '78. Therotor provides a bus bar 79 which connects the male contactselectrically but preferably suliicient looseness, as by flexible natureof the bus bar, is provided to permit seating of the male contactsproperly in the socket contacts. A spring 8) keeps the knob normallypulled inwardly and the contacts engaged. It may be noted that theconstruction shown in FIGURES 16 and 17 contains the feature of a seriesof upstanding contacts adapted to close a desired circuit withouttransitional engagement of the rotor contact with others of the series.However, mechanism for snap or toggle action for closing or opening thecircuit is omitted from this showing, and the resultant structure isthereby rendered more compact than in the previously describedconstructions.

ll claim:

1. A heavy duty electric switch comprising a casing having a fixedheader at an end thereof and an axis perpendicular to said header, acircular series concentric to said axis of electrically conductive bladecontacts upstanding within said casing perpendicular to and fixed onsaid header, a rotor in said casing parallel to and opposed to saidheader and rotatable on said axis and having an electrically conductivemating contact thereon projecting perpendicularly therefrom toward theheader and adapted to be located as the rotor is rotated to a selectedposition of rest with its said mating contact in spaced juxtaposition inalignment to a selected one of said fixed series of header contacts, abracket fixed with respect to said rotor and rotatable and slidabletherewith on said axis, a frame in and supported from said casing androtatable on said axis but having a fixed position longitudinally ofsaid axis, said frame slidably telescoping with said bracket therebyeffecting simultaneous rotation of the frame and bracket on said axis,and means supporting said frame rotatably and non-slidably in saidcasing, said means providing a snap-action control for sliding saidbracket and rotor axially in either direction and for rotating saidframe and bracket.

2. A heavy duty electric switch in accordance with claim 1, wherein saidmeans comprises a sleeve coaxially and rotatably mounted in said casingand fixed with respect to said frame and having a control exterior tosaid casing for rotating said frame to selected position of rotation,and a toggle within and connecting said bracket and frame providing asnapaction axial sliding of said bracket and rotor and its saidconductive mating contact to and from interengagement of said 4matingcontact with said selected one of the circular series of contacts.

3. A heavy duty electric switch in accordance with claim 2 wherein saidtoggle comprises a plunger coaxial to and extending through said sleeveand provided at its end portion within the bracket with transversesprings connecting said plunger to said bracket and said plunger havingmovement axially adequate to deflect the springs selectively in oppositedirections from dead-center alignment with each other and thereby effectsnap action sliding of said bracket with respect to the frame.

4. A heavy duty electric switch comprising a casing having a fixedheader at an end thereof and an axis perpendicular to said header, aplurality of circular series concentric to said axis of electricallyconductive blade contacts upstanding within said casing perpendicular toand fixed on said header with the blades of one series staggered withrespect to blades of another series, a rotor in said casing parallel toand opposed to said header and rotatable on said axis and having aplurality of electrically conductive mating contacts thereon providing amating contact for each of said series of contacts, said mating contactsprojecting perpendicularly from said rotor toward the header and adaptedto be individually located as the rotor is rotated to a selectedposition of rest with one mating contact in spaced juxtaposition inalignment to a selected one of a corresponding fixed series of headercontacts, a bracket fixed with respect to said rotor and rotatable andslidable therewith on said axis, a frame in and supported from saidcasing and rotatable on said axis but having a fixed positionlongitudinally of said axis, said frame slidably telescoping with saidbracket thereby effecting simultaneous rotation of the frame and bracketon said axis, and means supporting said frame rotatably and non-slidablyin said casing, said means providing a snap-action control for slidingsaid bracket and rotor axially in either direction and for rotating saidframe and bracket.

5. A heavy duty electric switch in accordance with claim 4, whereinmeans is provided for indexing the rotor to each position ofjuxtapositioning of the mating contacts successively with the respectivecontacts of the plurality of series of fixed contacts.

6. A heavy duty electric switch comprising a casing having an externalcoaxial neck at one end thereof, a fixed dial coaxially on said neck, anon-slidable rotatable sleeve extending coaxially through said neck, arotatable and slidable hollow shaft coaxially in said sleeve, and aplunger coaxially in said shaft projecting at opposite ends thereof, anindexing placement wheel fixed on the inner end of said sleeve to berotated thereby, a spring-loaded ball for releasably retaining theplacement wheel at a selected indexed position, a push-button knob xedon the outer end of said shaft, releasably interengaging teethrespectively on the sleeve and knob for rotating the sleeve andplacement wheel when the knob is pushed in and rotated, a pointer fixedon the sleeve rotatable therewith contiguous to said dial, a header forsaid casing at the opposite end thereof from the aforesaid end, acircular series of upstanding blade contacts carried by said headerprojecting toward said placement wheel, a rotor in said casing providinga mating blade contact revolvable in said casing into juxtaposedalinement with and directed toward a selected one of said circularseries of blade contacts, a bracket fixed on said rotor and directedtoward said placement wheel, a guide frame fixed on said placement wheeland directed toward said rotor, said bracket and frame beingnon-rotatable with respect to each other but slidably telescopic onewith the other, and toggle springs interposed between sides of saidbracket and inner end of said plunger for obtaining snap-actionlongitudinal sliding engagement and disengagement of the mating bladecontact with respect to the selected one of the circular series of bladecontacts by sliding said plunger.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,051,181 8/36Saar 20G-167 X 2,629,791 2/ 53 Tournedu 20G-76 2,669,612 2/54 Johnson200-4 2,817,722 12/57 Johnson 20C-166 2,991,337 7/61 Reihman 200-4 XFOREIGN PATENTS 582,687 Great Britain.

BERNARD A.' GILHEANY, Primary Examiner.

1. A HEAVY DUTY ELECTRIC SWITCH COMPRISING A CASING HAVING A FIXEDHEADER AT AN END THEREOF AND AN AXIS PERPENDICULAR TO SAID HEADER, ACIRCULAR SERIES CONCENTRIC TO SAID AXIS OF ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE BLADECONTACTS UPSTANDING WITHIN SAID CASING PERPENDICULAR TO AND FIXED ONSAID HEADER, A ROTOR IN SAID CASING PARALLEL TO AND OPPOSED DTO SAIDHEADER AND ROTATABLE ON SAID AXIS AND HAVING AN ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVEMATING CONTACT THEREON PROJECTING PERPENDICULARLY THEREFROM TOWARD THEHEADER AND ADAPTED TO BE LOCATED AS THE ROTOR IS ROTATED TO A SELECTEDPOSITION OF REST WITH ITS SAID MATING CONTACT IN SPACED JUXTAPOSITION INALIGNMENT TO A SELECTED ONE OF SAID FIXED SERIES OF HEADER CONTACTS, ABRACKET FIXED WITH RE-